Autonomous Vehicle Refueling Task Control for Service Availability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicles often inefficiently use their resources for constant refueling, becoming unavailable for service tasks when needed, and waste computational resources while traveling to depots instead of serving users.

Innovation Solution

A computing system determines appropriate refueling tasks for autonomous vehicles based on energy parameters and conditions, distinguishing between interruptible 'soft' and uninterruptible 'hard' tasks to optimize energy replenishment timing and resource usage, ensuring vehicles are available for service assignments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If autonomous vehicles constantly refuel to maintain energy levels, then energy availability is improved, but vehicle availability for service tasks deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy availabilityVSAvoidvehicle availability for service tasks

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts refueling task priorities based on real-time vehicle energy levels and service task availability. When energy levels are sufficient, refueling tasks are deprioritized to maintain service availability. When energy levels drop below thresholds, refueling tasks become high priority. This dynamic prioritization resolves the contradiction by making the refueling strategy adaptive rather than static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary assessment of both energy parameters and service task conditions before determining refueling actions. By evaluating the complete context (energy levels, task urgency, vehicle location) in advance, the system can make informed decisions about whether to refuel now or delay until a service task is complete, optimizing both energy availability and service availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If autonomous vehicles travel to depots for refueling, then energy replenishment is achieved, but computational resource efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy replenishmentVSAvoidcomputational resource waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of always traveling to depots for full refueling, the system applies partial action by determining whether a trip to the depot is actually necessary based on current energy levels and projected service tasks. The system only initiates depot trips when energy levels fall below critical thresholds, avoiding unnecessary computational overhead and resource consumption associated with routine depot visits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle's computing system autonomously evaluates its own energy status and service task portfolio to determine refueling needs, eliminating the need for external dispatch system intervention in routine decisions. This self-service capability reduces computational resource waste by handling energy management decisions locally rather than requiring continuous external system processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If autonomous vehicles prioritize service tasks over refueling, then service productivity is improved, but energy availability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice task completionVSAvoidenergy availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors vehicle energy levels and compares them against dynamic thresholds that are adjusted based on service task requirements. This feedback mechanism ensures that service tasks are prioritized when energy levels are sufficient, while automatically triggering refueling considerations when energy thresholds are approached, maintaining both service productivity and energy availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary energy sufficiency assessments before committing vehicles to service tasks. By evaluating projected energy consumption against available energy reserves in advance, the system can confidently prioritize service tasks when energy is sufficient, while identifying vehicles that should refuel before undertaking additional service commitments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11841705B2Systems and methods for energy based autonomous vehicle control

Publication Date: 2023.12.12 UBER TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

Systems and methods for determining appropriate energy replenishment and controlling autonomous vehicles are provided. An example computer-implemented method can include obtaining one or more energy parameters associated with an autonomous vehicle. The method can include determining a refueling task for the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the energy parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle. The refueling task comprises a first refueling task that is interruptible by a vehicle service assignment or a second refueling task that is not interruptible by the vehicle service assignment. The method can include communicating data indicative of the refueling task to the autonomous vehicle or to a second computing system that manages the autonomous vehicle. The method can include determining whether the refueling task for the autonomous vehicle has been accepted or rejected.